Scout spruces up church

Hayden Vogler, right, a Life Scout with Boys Scouts Troop 86, hands debris to fellow scouts David Rice, left, and Austin Gipson during a tree removal project at St. Paul United Methodist Church. Vogler is helping remove several trees from the church's lot as part of his Eagle project, which will allow him to apply to be an Eagle Scout.

Hayden Vogler was practically shouting when he directed his volunteers as they cut down trees from the side building of St. Paul United Methodist Church.

The volunteers were bundled in multiple layers of clothing to keep warm Jan. 12 as they helped Hayden toward his goal of achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.

Hayden, a 15-year-old sophomore at San Jacinto Christian Academy, has been in scouting for 10½ years and is a member of Troop 86.

St. Paul had several needs, but at the top of the church’s list was removing some aging trees that had become a hindrance. Aware of Hayden’s search for an Eagle Scout service project, the church contacted him with hopes of getting his help.

“They contacted me and said they had 10 trees that needed to be removed,” Hayden said. “And since my troop meets here, I thought it would be a good thing to help out with this project, so I got some volunteers together.”

The focus of the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project is concentrated on developing leadership skills and providing extensive service to a local institution or community outside the Boy Scouts of America. The scout must plan, lead, manage and complete the project before his 18th birthday.

The Eagle Scout project should have a lasting impact on the scout and members of his community. With emphasis on the leadership role, related to this are important lessons in project management and taking responsibility for a significant accomplishment.

Many volunteers came out to support the Amarillo teen, including family, friends, fellow scouts, classmates, neighbors, a firefighter, two police officers and Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas.

“Finding volunteers was easy, but it was important to find people who could handle moving tree limbs,” Hayden said.

Xcel Energy provided the majority of the equipment to assist in the hazardous task of felling the trees that towered over the left side of the church.

Southwestern Public Service Co. lineman Don Thorne — one of the Troop 86 committee members and a member of The Order of the Arrow, an elite Boy Scouts group — brought all the big equipment to help chop down the troublesome trees.

“These trees are about 35 to 45 years old,” saidBryan Schley, Troop 86 committee chairman. “They’re very hard in the center — cutting the outside is no big deal, but getting through that middle part is really tough. You have to be really careful.”

In the midst of the commotion was Kelly Vogler, Hayden’s mother.

“We’re taking the branches to the brush site off Soncy and the firewood will be donated,” she said.

After all the trees have been removed, Hayden bears the responsibility of making sure the church’s lawn looks untouched with no trace of disturbance to the grounds.

“This is a lot of work,” Vogler said as chain saws buzzed in the background. “When they stop grinding, we’ll fill the holes with dirt after we’re finished, and it’ll look like we haven’t even been here, except for the trees are going to be gone.”

Becoming an Eagle Scout is something few scouts achieve.

Golden Spread Scout Executive Andy Price said there are 288 troops and 6,111 scouts in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles. Only 2 percent of scouts attain the rank, he said.

“For a boy to become an Eagle Scout, he’s put in countless work hours to benefit his community and service hours to help him become a leader,” Price said.

The most challenging part about spearheading this Eagle Scout service project for Hayden was getting everyone working together.

“It was hard to get all the volunteers together to accomplish one task and to get everyone on the same page,” said Hayden.

After the completion of this service project, Hayden will endure a strenuous Scout Board Review in which his attitude and practice of the “ideals of Scouting” will be evaluated by his district, council and troop leaders.

In addition to his review, Hayden has part of a merit badge in communication left to complete before he can successfully attain the rank.

But the accolades don’t stop there; Hayden plans on remaining active in Boy Scouts and wants to become a mentor.

“When I’ve completed that, I’ll focus on my education and getting into college,” Hayden said. “I will still remain active even after high school, and hopefully I will get to serve as a mentor to younger scouts.”

Hayden credited the Boy Scouts with playing a vital role in shaping who he is today.

“Because of Boy Scouts, I have become very knowledgeable in many different subjects in life,” Hayden said. “Boy Scouts has taught and assisted in the growth of my maturity. I learned a lot about the outdoors, and it has helped me to be a better leader.”